【New Youth of Dalian University of Technology】Ke Sifan: Forging a Global Perspective for Youth Amids

On October 17, 2025, the New Youth Class will hold its graduation ceremony and autumn semester opening ceremony. Three years of hard work have yielded fruitful results, and faculty and student representatives from various participating universities will gather to share their growth and achievements. This article focuses on Ke Sifan, a representative student from Dalian University of Technology, to see how she has made the leap from professional expertise to a global perspective on the "New Youth Class" platform.

I. Background and Significance of the Activity

The "New Youth Program" aims to cultivate future leaders with a strong sense of national responsibility, a global perspective, and cross-cultural communication skills. Through interdisciplinary courses, high-level lectures, and international practical experience, it provides students with a platform to break down professional barriers and connect China with the world. The upcoming ceremony will both summarize the achievements of the past three years and mark the beginning of a new journey.

As one of the core universities in the "New Youth Program", Dalian University of Technology has successfully run the program for seven semesters since its launch in the fall semester of 2022, selecting and cultivating a total of 150 outstanding students and building a mature interdisciplinary top-notch innovative talent training system.

II. Implementation at the University: A Fertile Ground for "New Youth" at Dalian University of Technology

The university highly values ​​the enhancement of students' international literacy and actively organizes students to participate in various overseas practical activities. To date, a total of 59 students from the Dalian University of Technology's "New Youth Class" have traveled abroad and participated in numerous top-level international exchange activities, including:

International Volunteer Internship Program

United Nations Headquarters Field Exchange Program (Geneva-Paris)

United Nations Headquarters in Geneva Field Exchange Program

United Nations Headquarters in Vienna Field Exchange Program

Youth Ambassador Exchange Program to the United States

United Nations Project in China

These high-level platforms allow Dalian University of Technology students to experience global governance firsthand, deepen their understanding of theoretical knowledge through practice, and truly put the cultivation of "global competence" into practice.

III. Student Testimonials: Ke Sifan's Growth Framework

At this ceremony, Ke Sifan, a student from Dalian University of Technology, will speak as a student representative. His growth trajectory is a vivid microcosm of the "New Youth" education philosophy. His speech, with a clear logical framework, showcases his critical thinking and achievements.

(I) Breaking Down Barriers: From "In-depth Cultivation of a Single Discipline" to "Interdisciplinary Integration"

"When I first entered Dalian University of Technology, my world consisted of rigorous formulas and code. The 'New Youth Class' opened another door for me, telling us that future leading talents should not only be proficient in their majors, but also have the composite ability to understand the world and participate in global governance."

Here, intellectual exchanges with top students from different disciplines are commonplace. We draw upon our respective professional backgrounds to explore global issues together. This interdisciplinary enrichment has made me deeply realize that true power comes from combining profound professional skills with broad human compassion.

(II) Travel: From a “Chinese Perspective” to the “Global Stage”

The appeal of the "New Youth Program" lies in the fact that it builds a bridge between "knowing" and "doing." I have had the privilege of engaging in on-site exchanges with international organizations such as the United Nations through the program.

The reflections I had in front of the United Nations Palace of Nations and the reflections I had while tackling technical challenges in the laboratory complemented each other. The former helped me understand 'why we innovate,' while the latter equipped me with the tools to 'achieve innovation.' This fusion of 'reading ten thousand books' and 'traveling ten thousand miles' is precisely the most valuable gift of the 'New Youth' training model.

(III) Integration: Fulfilling Global Responsibility through Serving Local Community

"This shift in perspective has also profoundly influenced my local practices. My classmates and I once developed a 'smart assistance for the elderly' mini-program for the community. We not only used technology, but also went into the community to understand their real needs."

When I see how technology can bring warmth to specific individuals, I am even more convinced that the ultimate purpose of cultivating a global perspective is to better give back to the land beneath our feet. This insight is a precious asset that no single discipline could have given me.

(iv) Outlook: To be “Youth Ambassadors” connecting China and the world

“Looking back on this journey, I have grown from a student focused on my studies to a ‘global citizen’ who has begun to pay attention to his or her place in the grand world order.”

The solid academic foundation we built at Dalian University of Technology is our "ship," while the global competence and cross-cultural understanding bestowed upon us by the "New Youth Class" are our guiding "compass." With the vision of youth, exploring the pulse of the world, I, like all the "New Youth" of Dalian University of Technology, am ready to carry this unique accumulation, stepping from the banks of the Ling River to the world, continuing our journey to realize the dream of bridging China and the world and contributing to global development.